Media release from Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula  

Event organisers, hosts, suppliers, producers and cinema businesses will benefit from a new support package of grants announced by the Victorian Government today.

The $20 million Victorian Events Support Package has been designed to support the events industry, acknowledging the heavy and ongoing impact of the May-June restrictions on the sector.

Part of the more than $500 million allocated by the Victorian Government to bolster businesses in the past two weeks; the package delivers grants in five areas.

The Sustainable Events Business Program provides payments of up to $250,000 to major event organisers, hosts and suppliers who have had the ongoing viability of their event or business significantly affected during the restrictions that began in late May.

Successful applicants must have most of their operations in Victoria, and have experienced a minimum 50 per cent decline in annual turnover in the three months prior to 27 May 2021 compared with the same period in 2019.

They will also have a payroll of more than $3 million in metropolitan Melbourne or $500,000 in regional Victoria.

The Impacted Public Events Support Program will deliver grants of $25,000 to event organisers and $10,000 to suppliers of Tier 1 and Tier 2 events – events with crowds above 1,001 people – that have incurred costs as a direct result of the recent necessary public health restrictions.

Victoria’s cinemas will benefit from the Independent Cinemas Support Program, which provides eligible independent operators required to close due to restrictions with a payment of $12,000 per cinema venue.

Producers of live performance events are eligible for up to $7,000 under the Live Performance Support Program – Presenters. Suppliers to live performance events are eligible for up to $500 per event, with a maximum of four events, under the Live Performance Support Program – Suppliers.

Promoters, venues, producers and artists who promote their own shows are eligible to apply for the Live Performance Support Programs, along with contracted suppliers such as artists, performers, technicians and other crew members.

Since 30 May 2021, the Government has also launched the Business Costs Assistance Program, the Licensed Hospitality Venues Fund and the Regional Tourism Support Package to back businesses and their workers.

The Government has provided more than $6 billion in direct economic support for businesses over the course of the pandemic.

Applications for the Sustainable Events Business Program, the Independent Cinemas Support Program and the Live Performance Support Programs will open shortly.

To register interest and apply when the programs open. Businesses eligible for the Impacted Public Events Support Program will be contacted directly and invited to apply.

For more information on these programs, contact the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.